City Council Community Planning & Transportation Committee Meeting

CITY OF NORMAN, OK CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY PLANNING & TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING Municipal Building, Executive Conference Room, 201 West Gray, Norman, OK73069 Thursday, April 27, 2023 at 4:00 PM MINUTES It is the policy of the City of Norman that no person or groups of persons shall on the grounds of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, place of birth, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, marital status, including marriage to a person of the same sex, disability, relation, or genetic information, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to discrimination in employment activities or in all programs, services, or activities administered by the City, its recipients, sub-recipients, and contractors. 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CALL TO ORDER Chairman Holman called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. PRESENT Councilmember Ward 2 Lauren Schueler Councilmember Ward 8 Matthew Peacock Councilmember Ward 7 Stephen Holman, Chair ABSENT None OTHERS PRESENT: Council member Ward 4 Helen Grant Mr. Jim Adair, Adair and Associates Realtors Mr. Cameron Brewer, Business Development Officer of T-Bank Dr. Gabriel Bird, Doctor of Dental Surgery Mr. Paul D'Andrea, Capital Projects Engineer Mr. Taylor Johnson, Transit and Parking Program Manager Mr. Scott Martin, Chief Operations Officer, Norman Chamber of Commerce Ms. Beth Muckala, Assistant City Attorney Mr. Shawn O'Leary, Director of Public Works Mr. Jessie Rush, Assistant Director of Operations, EMBARK Mr. Scott Sturtz, City Engineer CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY PLANNING & TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING -Thursday, April 27, 2023 P a g e 11 AGENDA ITEMS 1. PUBLIC TRANSIT REPORT. Mr. Taylor Johnson, Transit and Parking Program Manager, said the fixed route service transported 30,515 passengers in February 2023, compared to 22,363 in March 2022. The daily average ridership was 1,132. There were 782 passengers with bicycles and 281 passengers with wheelchairs or other mobility devices transported in March. The paratransit service transported 2,024 passengers in March 2023, compared to 2,119 in March 2022. Average daily ridership was 75, an increase of 3.85% compared to March 2022. Saturday service totaled 2,706 in March 2023, a 35.31% increase over 895 in March 2022. Mr. Johnson said Staff continues to work closely with the contractor regarding renovation of 320 East Comanche Street into a City Transit Center. He said asbestos removal is beginning tomorrow, which has slowed operations. He said contractors continue to work on the outside of the facility until the asbestos inside has been abated. On December 13, 2022, Council approved a resolution to alter bus routes and transit bus services as recommended in the Go Norman Transit Plan to take effect in 2023. Staff continues to work on implementing the newly approved changes, which includes changes to bus stops, signage, and advertising as well as operator training. Mr. Johnson said Oklahoma City plans to initiate their route changes on October 1, 2023, and felt that was a good regional approach of one route change for entire metro area. On April 12, 2023, Council approved a grant application to the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Bus and Bus Facilities and Low-or No-Emissions Grants to purchase six Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) cutaway buses for fleet replacement. Staff continues to research eligible grants to support existing operations, vehicle needs, and future improvements. Following feedback from Council, recommendations were given to Staff for a Microtransit Pilot Program consisting of a turnkey microtransit services offered Monday through Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. or 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. as well as on Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The recommendations also suggested this service be offered in a defined zone and be limited in size. A Request for Proposal (RFP) went out March 17, 2023, with a due date of May 5, 2023. Mr. Johnson said the Fleet Maintenance Division continues to ensure the transit fleet is in operational condition each morning, despite the age of the vehicles. The maintenance includes fueling, cleaning, and sanitizing each transit vehicle daily. CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY PLANNING & TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING -Thursday, April 27, 2023 P a g e I2  Item 1, continued: Items submitted for the record 1. Memorandum dated March 27, 2023, from Taylor Johnson, Transit and Parking Program Manager, through Shawn O'Leary, P.E., CFM, Director of Public Works, to Council Community Planning and Transportation Committee 2. EMBARK Norman Performance Report for March 2023 ***** 2. UPDATE ON THE TWO-WAY GRAY STREET PROJECT. Mr. Scott Sturtz, City Engineer, said the 2019 Transportation Bond Projects for Downtown Norman include Porter Avenue and Acres Street Intersection (complete); Porter Avenue Streetscape (complete November 2023); James Garner Phase II (Acres Street to Flood Avenue); Gray Street Two-Way Conversion (complete December 2023); and James Garner Phase Ill for total City investment of $21,900,000. He said five projects within the 2019 Transportation Bond Projects are bond funded and 14 are federally funded. Mr. Sturtz said the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) will be managing the project due to the federal funding involved and the City needs certain permissions from the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railroad. He said key issues are the preservation of the Railroad Quiet Zone and traffic impact of James Garner Avenue's connection to Flood Avenue. The Gray Street Two-Way Conversion Project includes traffic signal modifications; intersection widening; four-quadrant gate system at railroad crossing; restriping; reverse angle parking; landscaped islands; and signage for total project costs of $5, 100,000 ($2,834,147 local/$2,265,853 federal). During the project, additional streetscape enhancements were added where budget and space allowed that includes bulb outs at intersections where appropriate; decorative intersections; street trees; landscaped intersections; traffic access management (eliminated several drives); lighting; and street furniture (benches and trashcans). The Gray Street Two-Way Conversion Project plans near The Standard Restaurant have been coordinated with the owner and been shared with multiple property owners. Mr. Sturtz said Staff also met with several property owners to discuss the scope of the project and Staff made a presentation to the Norman Downtowners Association with no negative comments received. He said detailed information regarding the plan is available online at "norrnanstreets.com." CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY PLANNING & TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING -Thursday, April 27, 2023 P a g e I3  Item 2, continued: Councilmember Grant asked if bike racks could be part of the project and Mr. Sturtz said Staff can review that, but they would have to be on the bulb outs because that is the only place with adequate space. He said bike racks are considered street furniture and Staff would be willing to work with a property owner if they showed interest. Mr. Sturtz highlighted the project schedule that includes BNSF Railroad pre-emption agreement received by the ODOT on October 25, 2022; plans and fees submitted to ODOT for BNSF pre-emption on November 9, 2022; 90% plans submitted to ODOT and completed field review on January 2023; expected delivery or pre-exemption report from BNSF in May 2023; expected BNSF Construction Agreement in May 2023; final plan ODOT bid documents submittal pending BNSF comments in July 2023; BNSF construction in July 2023; ODOT bid opening in October 2023; start construction in January 2024; and project completion in December 2024. Items submitted for the record 1. PowerPoint presentation entitled, "Gray Street Two-Way Project Update," Community Planning and Transportation Committee dated April 27, 2023 ***** 3. DISCUSSION REGARDING PUBLIC PARKING IN NORMAN INCLUDING SIGNAGE AND RATES. Mr. Johnson said the 2013 Campus Corner Parking Management Business Plan and 2013 Downtown Parking Lot Management Business Plan details the strategies and payment options to customers and visitors who park in the metered areas of Campus Corner. He said these plans are designed to maximize the level of convenience by all users as well as the efficient use of public parking spaces. The 2016 Norman Parking Study was commissioned to provide a blueprint for future parking improvements and expenditures. The 2018 Parking Strategic Plan's primary goal was to be a guide for decision makers on topics, such as governance, technology, enforcement, as well as parking asset development and management. The parking plans acknowledged the need for additional parking in the Downtown and Campus Corner areas with proposed sites for new parking structures. The plans proposed creating a separate parking fund, governance structure, and hiring additional parking staff. The City is currently working with partner agencies on a possible parking authority; provide consistent management (meter times, meter costs, meter pay methods, enforcement) for customers and update technology. The plans also recommended integration with and consideration for a multimodal future increasing walkability and bikeability in these areas as well as investment in additional mass transit. CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY PLANNING & TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING -Thursday, April 27, 2023 P a g e I4  Item 3, continued: Mr. Johnson said parking meter rates for Campus Corner are $1.00 per hour Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m with a maximum stay is two hours between 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and three hours between 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. He said event parking is $25 (home football game days). The Gray Street Parking Lot charges $0.25 per hour Monday through Friday with a maximum stay of eight hours and time cannot be purchased beyond 5:00 p.m. The 2016 Norman Parking Study recommended installing parking meters in the Central Business District (CBD) to increase availability and encourage turnover of short-term parking while also generating a revenue stream for public parking improvements. The 2018 Parking Strategic Plan recommended parking meters as one of the primary strategies to make downtown parking more visitor friendly, improve operational policies and procedures and enhance parking system revenues to upgrade the parking system's technologies. Mr. Johnson said Staff is proposing to meter Downtown Main Street in FYE 24 that would include the purchase and installation of 12 pay stations for the downtown areas at a cost of $88,128. He said metering the Main Street corridor would further fuel the economic development of the area as Downtown Norman's popularity is at an all-time high with the CBD attracting more businesses. Following this recommendation would increase vehicle/patron turnover for the popular area and pay stations would be installed on the north and south sides of Main Street from University Boulevard to Porter Avenue. This proposal would also create a new revenue fund for parking with the estimated revenue from these pay stations ($250,000 - $520,000} anticipated to cover the initial costs and generate additional revenue in the first financial year they are installed. The range of estimated revenue covers different possible rates, to be determined at a future date and revenues may be used for any associated maintenance of the pay stations and current parking infrastructure. The revenues would also pay for enhanced parking, such as a parking structure/garage or other projects in the future. Parking meters in Downtown Norman create a more patron friendly parking experience by ensuring uniformity of pay stations currently installed at the Gray Street Parking Lot, Cleveland County Courthouse, and Campus Corner locations as well as the University of Oklahoma's paid visitor parking. Councilmember Peacock said the revenue stream is appealing, but he has concerns about installing parking meters in Downtown Norman when there is construction all around, i.e., Porter Streetscape Project, Two-Way Gray Street Conversion, James Garner Avenue, etc. He did not feel this was an ideal time for parking meter installation and implementation and Councilmember Schueler agreed. Mr. Jim Adair, Adair and Associates Realtors, said no businesses in Downtown Norman are in favor of this project. He said making someone move their vehicle every hour does not encourage turnover, it discourages it. CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY PLANNING & TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING· Thursday, April 27, 2023 P a g e I5  Item 3, continued: Chairman Holman said he would prefer establishing a Parking Authority first and gaining support from property owners before moving forward with parking meters. He said there seems to be consensus to table the proposal for now. Items submitted for the record 1. PowerPoint presentation entitled, "Public Parking in Norman," Council Community Planning and Transportation Committee dated April 27, 2023 ***** ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 5:23 p.m. CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY PLANNING & TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING -Thursday, April 27, 2023 Pa g e I 6